Novel systems and methods for producing fuel from diverse biomass

ABSTRACT

Inventive systems and methods for management of fuel production from diverse type of biomass are described. The systems and methods of the present invention are capable of satisfying demands for fuel having a desired fuel property (e.g., a desired value of higher heating value on a dry basis). These systems and methods rely on strong correlations between various fuel properties in a dry, ash-free regime developed by the present invention. These correlations are surprising and unexpected because these fuel properties do not correlate in a dry regime, where fuel properties are typically specified.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel systems and methods for producingfuel from biomass. More particularly, the present invention relates tonovel systems and methods for producing fuel having desiredpredetermined properties from diverse biomass.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

High demand for fuel and energy, and a decrease in conventional energysupplies, such as oil and natural gas, are driving exploration ofrenewable energy sources such as biofuels. Renewable energy sources aredesirable because they are available long after conventional energysupplies have been depleted. Specifically, biomass, a resourceabundantly and renewably present in nature, is the source for productionof biofuels.

Biomass can be of many different types. One example of biomass isagricultural waste, often referred to as agro-waste. Agro-waste, inturn, can be of many different types. Examples of agro-waste includerice straw; sugarcane leaves and corn stover. As would be expected,certain types of agro-waste are more commonly available over other typesin a geographic region, depending typically on the types of cropsfavored in that region. Consequently, abundance of different types ofagro-waste varies from region to region.

Different types of agro-waste have different chemical constituents ordifferent physical properties. As a result, fuel produced from one typeof agro-waste has different fuel properties compared to fuel producedfrom another type of agro-waste. Moreover, fuel produced from one typeof agro-waste commonly found in one region has different fuel propertiescompared to the fuel produced from the same type or another type ofagro-waste commonly found in another region.

Unfortunately, current systems and processes for producing fuel frombiomass suffer from drawbacks. By way of example, it is very difficultto produce fuel having specific, desirable fuel properties from diversebiomass in a commercially viable manner. Although biomass diversityspans across different regions, it is necessary to produce fuel havingspecific properties across those regions. For various energy-drivenapplications across different regions, where the need for an energysource having specific fuel properties is a must, producing fuel fromdiverse types of biomass does not present a commercially viablesolution.

Current systems and processes, which attempt to produce fuel frombiomass, do so by developing a unique system design and a unique fuelproduction process for a particular type of biomass. Expending suchefforts in the hopes of producing fuel with specific, desirableproperties is time consuming, and represents an expensive and arduoustask.

What is therefore needed are novel systems and methods that harnessenergy from diverse types of biomass without suffering from thedrawbacks encountered by the conventional systems and processes ofbiomass treatment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, in one aspect, the present invention providesnovel systems and methods for producing fuel from diverse types ofbiomass.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a process for producing afuel. The process includes:

(1) obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash on a dry basis ofbiomass, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from saidbiomass;

(2) accessing information regarding a predetermined value of a higherheating value of the fuel on a dry basis or information regarding apredetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen of the fuel;

(3) using a microprocessor for computing the value of higher heatingvalue of the fuel on a dry basis from the information regarding thepredetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen of the fuel when the informationregarding the predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen is obtained fromthe accessing, or computing the value of the ratio of carbon to oxygenof the fuel from the information regarding the predetermined value ofthe higher heating value of the fuel on a dry basis when the informationregarding the higher heating value is obtained from the accessing, andthe computing the value of higher heating value or ratio of carbon tooxygen according to an expression:

${HHV}_{dry} = {\left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack*{\quad\left\lbrack \frac{\left( {v + {\rho \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}} \right)*\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{{\left( {v + {\rho \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}} \right)*\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)} + {A_{0,{dry}}\left( {{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)\pi} - \mu} \right)}} \right\rbrack}}$

wherein HHV_(dry) represents the higher heating value of the fuel havingunits of kcal/kg on a dry basis,

A_(0, dry) represents the amount of initial ash on a dry basis of thebiomass having units of percent, by weight,

C represents an amount of carbon in the fuel,

O represents an amount of oxygen in the fuel,

C and O have units of percent, by weight, and

wherein et has α value that is between about 200 and about 300,

β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,

μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,

ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,

π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and

ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25; and

(4) processing the biomass to produce the fuel using the higher heatingvalue of the fuel on a dry basis or using the ratio of carbon to oxygen.

In another aspect, the present invention provides another process forproducing a fuel. The process includes:

(1) obtaining information regarding a predetermined ratio of carbon tooxygen of the fuel or information regarding a predetermined amount ofvolatile matter of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, and a formulationof the fuel being produced from biomass;

(2) using a microprocessor for computing the value of ratio of carbon tooxygen of the fuel from the information regarding the amount of volatilematter of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis when the informationregarding the amount of volatile matter is obtained from the obtaining,or computing the amount of volatile matter of the fuel on a dry,ash-free basis from the information regarding the value of ratio ofcarbon to oxygen when the information regarding the value of ratio ofcarbon to oxygen is obtained from the obtaining, and the computing thevalue of ratio of carbon to oxygen or the amount of volatile matter ofthe fuel on a dry, ash-free basis according to an expression:

$\left( \frac{C}{O} \right) = \frac{{\mu \; \lambda} + {v\; \kappa} - {vVM}_{DAF}}{{\rho \; {VM}_{DAF}} + {\pi \; \lambda} - {\rho \; \kappa}}$

wherein VM_(DAF) represents the amount of volatile matter of the fuel ona dry, ash-free basis and having units of percent, by weight,

C represents an amount of carbon in the fuel,

O represents an amount of oxygen in the fuel, and

C and O have units of percentage, by weight,

wherein κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120,

λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35,

μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,

ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,

π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and

ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25; and

(4) processing the biomass to produce the fuel using the value of ratioof carbon to oxygen or the amount of volatile matter of the fuel on adry, ash-free basis.

In another aspect, the present invention provides another method forproducing a fuel. The process includes:

(1) obtaining information regarding a predetermined amount of volatilematter of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or information regarding apredetermined value of yield of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, and aformulation of the fuel being produced from biomass;

(2) using a microprocessor for computing the amount of volatile matterof the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis from the information regarding theyield of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis when the informationregarding the yield is obtained from the obtaining, or computing theyield of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis from the informationregarding the amount of volatile matter when the information regardingthe amount of volatile matter is obtained from the obtaining, and thecomputing said value volatile matter or said yield according to anexpression:

${VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}$

wherein VM_(DAF) represents the amount of the volatile matter havingunits of percent, by weight, of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,(M/M₀)_(OAF) represents yield of the fuel of the fuel on a dry, ash-freebasis, M represents mass of the fuel, M₀ represents mass of the biomass,and wherein:

κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and

λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35: and

(3) processing the biomass to produce the fuel using the amount ofvolatile matter of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or the yield of thefuel on a dry, ash-free basis.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides yet anotherprocess for producing a fuel. The process includes:

(1) obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash on a dry basis ofbiomass, and a formulation of the fuel being produced from the biomass;

(2) accessing information regarding a predetermined value of yield ofthe fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or information regarding apredetermined ash content of the fuel on a dry basis;

(3) using a microprocessor for computing a value of yield of the fuel ona dry, ash-free basis from the information regarding the ash content ofthe fuel on a dry basis when the information regarding the ash contentof the fuel is obtained from the accessing, or computing the ash contentof the fuel on a dry basis from the information regarding yield of thefuel on a dry, ash-free basis, when the information regarding yield ofthe fuel on a dry, ash-free basis is obtained from said accessing, andcomputing said value of yield or the ash content of the fuel accordingto an expression:

$A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}$

wherein M/M₀ represents yield of the fuel,

M represents mass of the fuel,

M₀ represents mass of the biomass, and

A_(dry) represents the amount of ash content of the fuel on a dry basishaving units of percent, by weight, and

A_(0,dry) represents the amount of initial ash on a dry basis of thebiomass having units of percent, by weight; and

(4) processing the biomass to produce the fuel using the value of yieldof the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or the ash content of the fuel on adry basis.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides yet anotherprocess for producing a fuel. The process includes:

(1): obtaining a value far an amount of initial ash of biomass on a drybasis, and a formulation of the fuel being produced from the biomass;

(2) accessing a predetermined value of a property of the fuel on a drybasis;

(3) using a microprocessor for computing a value of ash content of thefuel on a dry basis from the value of the amount of initial ash of thebiomass on a dry basis and the predetermined value of the property ofthe fuel by solving at least one equation selected from a groupconsisting of a first set of equations and at least one equationselected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, whereinthe first set of equations includes:

${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HH}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{{and}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$

and said second set of equations includes:

${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}};$

wherein said A_(0,dry) represents said value of said amount of initialash content of said biomass on a dry basis,

said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of saidfuel on said dry basis, said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higherheating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,

said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry,ash-free basis,

said M represents mass of said fuel.

said M₀ is mass of said biomass,

said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value on said drybasis,

said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon on said dry basis,

said C_(DAR) represents an amount of carbon on said dry, ash-free basis,

said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry basis,

said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry, ash-free basis,

said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of biomass yield on said dry basis,and

wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,

said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,

said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,

said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,

said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,

said σ has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, and

wherein said predetermined value of said property of said fuel includesat least one member selected from a group consisting of said value ofhigher heating value on said dry basis, said value of ash content onsaid dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value ofcarbon on said dry basis, and said value of oxygen on said dry basis;and

(4) processing the biomass to produce the fuel using the value of ashcontent of the fuel on a dry basis.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides yet anotherprocess for producing a fuel. The process includes:

(1) obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a drybasis, and a formulation of the fuel being produced from the biomass;

(2) accessing a predetermined value for ash content of the fuel on a drybasis;

(3) using a microprocessor for computing a desired value of a propertyof the fuel on a dry basis from the value of the amount of initial ashof the biomass on a dry basis and the predetermined value of the ashcontent of the fuel by solving a yield equation, solving at least oneequation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equationsand at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a secondset of equations, wherein the yield equation includes:

${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}},$

and said second set of equations includes:

${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{H_{DAF} = {\xi - \frac{o}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{{VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$FC_(DAF) = 100 − VM_(DAF);

said first set of equations includes:

${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{{and}\text{}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$

wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initialash content of said biomass on a dry basis,

said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of saidfuel on said dry basis,

said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuelon a dry, ash-free basis,

said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry,ash-free basis, and

said M represents mass of said fuel,

said M₀ represents mass of said biomass,

said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuelon said dry basis,

said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said drybasis,

said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry,ash-free basis,

said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said drybasis.

said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry,ash-free basis,

said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said drybasis, and

wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,

said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,

said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120,

said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35,

said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1,

said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,

said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,

said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,

said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12, and

said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50;

wherein said desired value of said property of said fuel includes atleast one member selected from a group consisting of said value ofhigher heating value on said dry basis, said value of fixed, carbon onsaid dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value ofvolatile matter on said dry basis, said amount of carbon on said drybasis, said amount of oxygen on said dry basis and said amount ofhydrogen on said dry basis; and

(4) processing the biomass to produce the fuel using the desired valueof the property of the fuel on a dry basis.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides yet anotherprocess for facilitating production of a fuel on a dry basis. Theprocess includes:

(1) obtaining a predetermined value of a property of the fuel on a drybasis, and a formulation of the fuel being based on biomass;

(2) determining a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of the fuel on a dry,ash-free basis that corresponds to the predetermined value of theproperty of the fuel on a dry basis;

(3) correlating the value of carbon to oxygen ratio of the fuel on adry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of the fuel on a dry,ash-free basis;

(4) arriving at a value for yield of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basisby using the value for volatile matter of the fuel on a dry, ash-freebasis;

(5) computing using at least one microprocessor a value for ash contentof the fuel on a dry basis that corresponds to the value of yield on adry, ash-free basis;

(6) facilitating production of the fuel from the biomass using the valuefor ash content of the fuel; and wherein each of the value of carbon tooxygen ratio of the fuel, the value for volatile matter of the fuel, thevalue of yield of the fuel and the value of ash content of the fuel areindependent of type of the biomass used in the formulation.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a system forfacilitating production of a fuel on a dry basis. The system includes:

(1) a means for obtaining a predetermined value of a property of thefuel on a dry basis, and a formulation of the fuel being based onbiomass;

(2) a means for determining a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of thefuel on a dry, ash-free basis that corresponds to the predeterminedvalue of the property of the fuel on a dry basis;

(3) a means for correlating the value of carbon to oxygen ratio of thefuel on a dry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of the fuelon a dry, ash-free basis;

(4) a means for arriving at a value for yield of the fuel on a dry,ash-free basis by using the value for volatile matter of the fuel on adry, ash-free basis; and

(5) a means for computing a value for ash content of the fuel on a drybasis that corresponds to the value of yield on a dry, ash-free basis;

wherein each of the value of carbon to oxygen ratio of the fuel, thevalue for volatile matter of the fuel, the value of yield of the fueland the value of ash content of the fuel are independent of type ofbiomass used in the formulation.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides another system forfacilitating production of a fuel on a dry basis. The system furtherincludes using a graph or an electronically stored table where aplurality of values yield of the fuel on a dry, ash-free basis arecorrelated to a plurality of values of ash content of the fuel on a drybasis.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides yet another systemfor facilitating production of fuel. The system includes:

(1) at least one processor;

(2) at least one interface operable to provide a communication link toat least one network device; and

(3) memory; and the above-mentioned at least one processor is operable ostore in the memory a plurality of data structures and the system isoperable to:

-   -   (a) obtain a predetermined value of a property of the fuel on a        dry basis, and a formulation of the fuel being based on biomass;    -   (b) determine a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of the fuel on a        dry, ash-free basis that corresponds to the predetermined value        of the property of said fuel on a dry basis;    -   (c) correlate the value of carbon to oxygen ratio of the fuel on        a dry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of the fuel        on a dry, ash-free basis;    -   (d) arrive at a value for yield of the fuel on a dry, ash-free        basis by using the value for volatile matter of the fuel on a        dry, ash-free basis;    -   (e) compute a value for ash content of the fuel on a dry basis        that corresponds to the value of yield on a dry, ash-free basis;        and wherein each of the value of carbon to oxygen ratio of the        fuel, the value for volatile matter of the fuel, the value of        yield of the fuel and the value of ash content of the fuel are        independent of type of the biomass used in said formulation.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides yet anotherprocess for facilitating production of a fuel. The process includes:

(1) obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a drybasis, and a formulation of the fuel being produced from the biomass;

(2) accessing a predetermined value of a property of the fuel on a drybasis;

(3) using a microprocessor for computing a value of ash content of thefuel on a dry basis from the value of the amount of initial ash of thebiomass on a dry basis and the predetermined value of the property ofthe fuel by solving at least one equation selected from a groupconsisting of a first set of equations and at least one equationselected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, whereinthe first set of equations includes:

${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},\; {O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},\; {{{{and}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$

and said second set of equations includes:

${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}};$

wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initialash content of said biomass on a dry basis,

said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of saidfuel on said dry basis, said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higherheating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,

said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry,ash-free basis,

said M represents mass of said fuel,

said M₀ is mass of said biomass,

said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value on said drybasis,

said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon on said dry basis,

said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon on said dry, ash-free basis,

said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry basis,

said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry, ash-free basis,

said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of biomass yield on said dry basis,and

wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,

said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,

said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,

said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,

said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,

said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, and

wherein said predetermined value of said property of said fuel includesat least one member selected from a group consisting of said value ofhigher heating value on said dry basis, said value of ash content onsaid dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value ofcarbon on said dry basis, and said value of oxygen on said dry basis;and

(4) facilitating, using said value of ash content of the fuel on a drybasis, at least one process selected from a group consisting ofcombustion of fuel or processing biomass.

in yet another aspect, the present invention provides yet anotherprocess for facilitating production of a fuel. The process includes:

(1) obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a drybasis, and a formulation of the fuel being produced from said biomass;

(2) accessing a predetermined value for ash content of the fuel on a drbasis;

(3) using a microprocessor for computing a desired value of a propertyof the fuel on a dry basis from the value of the amount of initial ashof the biomass on a dry basis and the predetermined value of the ashcontent of the fuel by solving a yield equation, at least one equationselected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and atleast one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set ofequations, wherein the yield equation includes:

${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}},$

and said second set of equations includes;

${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{H_{DAF} = {\xi - \frac{o}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{{VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$FC_(DAF) = 100 − VM_(DAF);

said first set of equations includes:

${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{{and}\text{}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$

wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initialash content of said biomass on a dry basis,

said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of saidfuel on said dry basis,

said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuelon a dry, ash-free basis,

said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry,ash-free basis, and

said M represents mass of said fuel,

said M₀ represents mass of said biomass,

said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuelon said dry basis,

said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said drybasis,

said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry,ash-free basis,

said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said drybasis,

said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry,ash-free basis,

said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said drybasis, and

wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,

said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸,

said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,

said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120

said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35,

said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1,

said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,

said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,

said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,

said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12,

said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, and

wherein said desired value of said property of said fuel includes atleast one member selected from a group consisting of said value ofhigher heating value on said dry basis, said value of fixed carbon onsaid dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value ofvolatile matter on said dry basis, said amount of carbon on said drybasis, said amount of oxygen on said dry basis and said amount ofhydrogen on said dry basis; and

(4) facilitating, using said value of the property of said fuel on a drybasis, at least one process selected from a group consisting ofcombustion of fuel or processing of biomass.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be bestunderstood from the following descriptions of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interactive environment, according toone embodiment of the present invention, showing different systemsinvolved in production and sale of biomass-based fuel.

FIG. 2 is an exemplar embodiment of a Customized Fuel Analysis ServerSystem used for implementing various aspects/features of a FuelProduction Management Facility.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a Customized Fuel AnalysisServer System, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A is a graph of elemental content of biomass on a dry, ash-freebasis, plotted against mass yield of fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is graph of elemental mass percentage of biomass on a dry,ash-free basis, plotted against mass yield of fuel on dry, ash-freebasis, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a graph of higher heating value for particular types ofbiomass or fuel plotted against carbon/oxygen ratio, in accordance witha preferred embodiment of the present invention, for particular types ofbiomass or fuel.

FIG. 6 is a graph of carbon/oxygen ratio for biomass or fuel plottedagainst volatile matter of biomass or fuel expressed as a percentage ofweight on a dry, ash-free basis, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph of volatile matter of biomass or fuel expressed askg/100 kg of initial biomass on a dry, ash-free basis, plotted againstmass yield of biomass or fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph of volatile matter of biomass or fuel expressed as apercent, by weight, on a dry, ash-free basis, plotted against mass yieldof biomass or fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a graph of ash content of biomass or fuel, expressed as apercent, by weight, on a dry basis, plotted against mass yield ofbiomass or fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a series of steps used to determine ashcontent, expressed as a percent, by weight, on a dry basis, thatcorresponds to the value for biomass yield on a dry, ash-free basis, inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the presentinvention is practiced without limitation to some or all of thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known process steps have notbeen described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interactive environment 100, accordingto one embodiment of the present invention, showing the differentsystems involved in production and sale of biomass-based fuel. Inenvironment 100, a Biomass-Based Fuel Production Plant 102 and a FuelCustomer site 106 are communicatively coupled through a Data Network 108to a Fuel Production Management Facility 104.

Biomass-Based Fuel Production Plant 102 produces fuel from biomass. Thebiomass is preferably agro-waste and more preferably, one or moredifferent types of agro-waste. By way of example, the agro waste is atleast one member selected from a group consisting of wood, guinea grass,rice straw, sugar cane leaves, cotton stalks, mustard stalks, pineneedles, coffee husks, coconut husks, rice husks, mustard husks, weedstraw, corn stover, sugar cane bagasse, millet stalks, pulses stalks,sweet sorghum stalks, nut shells, animal manure, guar husks, acaciatorahs, julia flora, jatropha residue, wild grass, pigeon beans, pearlmillet, barley, dry chili, gran jowar, linseed, maize/corn, lentil, mungbean, sunflower, till, oil seed stalks, pulses/millets, black gram,sawan, soybean stalks, cow gram, horse gram, finger millet, turmeric,castor seed, meshta, sannhamp, and hemp. Agro-waste need not be ofdifferent types for the biomass to be considered diverse. In fact,according to the present invention, two piles of biomass from the sametype of agro-waste are diverse if they have different chemical orphysical properties. By way of example, if one pile of corn stover has adifferent average particle size than another pile of corn stover, thenaccording to the present invention, the two piles of corn stover arediverse.

Fuel Production Plant 102 includes a Biomass Analysis Laboratory 102 a,Fuel Production System 102 b, Automated Control System 102 c. BiomassAnalysis Laboratory 102 a includes different components (e.g., acarbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-sulfur (“CHNS”) analyzer, acarbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-oxygen (“CHNO”) analyzer, a gaseous massanalyzer, a mass spectrometer, an infrared (“IR”, a thermal conductivitycell, a muffle furnace, an inert muffle furnace, a high-temperatureoven, a solid fuel burner, a thermo-gravimetric analyzer, an IRspectrometer, a near infrared (“NIR”) spectrometer, an X-rayfluorescence spectrometer, a gamma ray absorber, a microwave absorber, abomb calorimeter, a differential thermal analyzer, and a differentialscanning calorimeter) to analyze various properties of biomass. A valuefor initial ash content is one property of the biomass that isfrequently determined using an ash analysis system, such as a mufflefurnace, an inert muffle furnace, a high-temperature oven, a solid fuelburner, a thermo-gravimetric analyzer, an IR spectrometer, a NIRspectrometer, an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, a gamma ray absorberand a microwave absorber. Automated Control System 102 c includesvarious process control equipment, which control the hardware componentsof a fuel production system 102 b and that are involved in processingbiomass into fuel. Fuel Production System 102 b includes, among others,such equipment as a leaching chamber, a torrefaction chamber, adewatering system and a drying system.

Fuel Production Management Facility 104 includes a Quality MonitoringSystem 104 a and a fuel properties analysis system 104 b. QualityMonitoring System 104 a monitors one or more outputs from FuelProduction Plant 102, as a quality control measure, to ensure thatbiomass processing will produce fuel having requisite values for certainproperties often dictated by Fuel Customer 106. Based on initial ashcontent of biomass provided by Biomass-Based Fuel Production Plant(preferably by Biomass Analysis Laboratory 102 a) and a desired valuefor a particular fuel property obtained from Fuel Customer 106, FuelProperties Analysis System 104 b provides at least another fuel propertyto Biomass-Based Fuel Production Plant 102. Fuel Production Plant 102uses that information to process biomass and produce a fuel having thedesired properties. In preferred embodiments of the present invention,Fuel Production Management Facility 104 not only provides informationregarding fuel properties to Fuel Production Plant 102, but also managesthe production of fuel at that plant.

Fuel Customer 106 includes, among other things, a Fuel Combustion System106 a, which is used for burning the resulting fuel to produce energyfor various applications. Depending on the application, Fuel Customer106 specifies the desired value for a fuel property (e.g., typicallyhigher heating value). To this end, Fuel Production Management Facility104 manages the fuel production process carried out at a Fuel ProductionPlant 104 to produce the fuel having the specified properties by FuelCustomer 106.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplar embodiment of a Customized Fuel AnalysisServer System 200, which is used for implementing variousaspects/features of Fuel Production Management Facility 104 describedherein. In at least one embodiment, server system 200 of the presentinvention includes at least one network device 202, and at least onestorage device 206 (such as, for example, a direct attached storagedevice).

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, networkdevice 202 may include a master central processing unit (CPU) 208,interfaces 204 and a bus 210 (e.g., a PCI bus). when acting under thecontrol of appropriate software or firmware, CPU 208 is responsible forimplementing specific functions associated with the functions of adesired network device. For example, when configured as a server, CPU208 is responsible for analyzing packets, encapsulating packets,forwarding packets to appropriate network devices, instantiating varioustypes of virtual machines, virtual interfaces, virtual storage volumes,and virtual appliances. CPU 208 preferably accomplishes at least aportion of these functions under the control of software including anoperating system (e.g., Linux), and any appropriate system software(such as, AppLogic™ software).

CPU 208 may include one or more processors 212, such as one or moreprocessors from the AMD, Google (formerly Motorola), Intel and/or MIPSfamilies of microprocessors. In an alternative embodiment, processor 212of the present invention is specially designed hardware for controllingthe operations of server system 200. In a specific embodiment, a memory214 (such as non-volatile RAM and/or ROM) also forms part of CPU 208.However, there are many different ways in which memory could be coupledto the system. Memory block 214 is used for a variety of purposes suchas, for example, caching and/or storing data, and programminginstructions.

Interfaces 204 are typically provided as interface cards (sometimesreferred to as “line cards”). Alternatively, one or more of interfaces204 is provided as on-board interface controllers built into the systemmotherboard. Generally, they control the sending and receiving of datapackets over the network and sometimes support other peripherals usedwith Customized. Fuel Analysis Server System 200. Among the interfacesprovided are FC interfaces, Ethernet interfaces, frame relay interfaces,cable interfaces, DSL interfaces, token ring interfaces, Infinibandinterfaces and the like. In addition, various very high-speed interfacesmay be provided, such as fast Ethernet interfaces, Gigabit Ethernetinterfaces, ATM interfaces, HSSI interfaces, POS interfaces, FDDIinterfaces, ASI interfaces, and DHEI interfaces. Other interfaces mayinclude one or more wireless interfaces such as, for example, 802.11(WiFi) interfaces, 802.15 interfaces (including Bluetooth™), 802.16(WiMax) interfaces, 802.22 interfaces, Cellular standards such as CDMAinterfaces, CDMA2000 interfaces, WCDMA interfaces, TDMA interfaces, andCellular 3G interfaces.

Generally, one or more interfaces may include ports appropriate forcommunication with the appropriate media. In some cases, they may alsoinclude an independent processor, and in some instances, volatile RAM.The independent processors may control such communication-intensivetasks as packet switching, media control and management. By providingseparate processors for the communications intensive tasks, theseinterfaces allow the master microprocessor 208 to efficiently performrouting computations, network diagnostics, security functions, etc.

In at least one embodiment, some interfaces are configured or designedto allow Customized Fuel Analysis Server System 200 to communicate withother network devices associated with various data networks including,but not limited to, local area network (LANs) and/or wide area networks(WANs). Other interfaces are configured or designed to allow networkdevice 202 to communicate with one or more directly attached storagedevice(s) 206.

Although the system shown in FIG. 2 illustrates one specific networkdevice described herein, it is by no means the only network devicearchitecture on which one or more embodiments can be implemented. Forexample, an architecture having a single processor that handlescommunications as well as routing computations may be used. Further,other types of interfaces and media could also be used with the networkdevice.

Regardless of network device's configuration, it may employ one or morememories or memory modules such as, for example, memory block 216,which, for example, may include random access memory (RAM)) configuredto store data, program instructions for the general-purpose networkoperations and/or other information relating to the functionality of thevarious fuel analysis techniques described herein. The programinstructions may control the operation of an operating system and/or oneor more applications, for example. The memory or memories may also beconfigured to store data structures, and/or other specific non-programinformation described herein.

Because such information and program instructions are employed toimplement the systems/methods described herein, one or more embodimentsrelates to machine-readable media that include program instructions,state information, etc., for performing various operations describedherein. Examples of machine-readable storage media include, but are notlimited to, magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, magnetictape, optical media such as CD-ROM disks, magneto-optical media such asoptical disks and hardware devices that are specially configured tostore and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM)and random access memory (RAM) devices. Some embodiments may also beembodied in transmission media such as, for example, a carrier wavetravelling over an appropriate medium such as airwaves, optical linesand electric lines. Examples of program instructions include bothmachine code, such as that produced by a compiler, and files containinghigher level code that is executed by the computer using an interpreter.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a functional block diagram of aCustomized Fuel Analysis Server System 300, in accordance with aspecific embodiment. Customized Fuel Analysis Server Systems 200 and 300perform similar functions, but server system 300 of FIG. 3 shows majorfunctional blocks that are present inside the server.

Customized Fuel Analysis Server System 300 includes context interpreter302, time synchronization engine 304, user account profile manager 306,user interface component(s) 308, network interface component 310, logcomponent(s) 312, status tracking component(s) 314, fuel productionmanagement system(s), quality monitoring system 318, time interpreter320, payment processing engine 322, database manager 324, configurationengine 326, email server component(s) 328, web server component(s) 330,messaging server component(s) 332, display(s) 334, I/O devices 336,database component(s) 338, authentication validation module 340,communication interface(s) 342, API interface(s) to 3^(rd) party serversystem(s) 344, processor(s), memory 348, interface(s) 350, devicedrivers 352 and peripheral devices 354.

In at least one embodiment, the Customized Fuel Analysis Server System300 is operable to perform and/or implement various types of functions,operations, actions, and/or other features such as, for example, one ormore of the following (or combinations thereof):

-   -   calculate fuel properties on a dry, ash-free basis and on a dry        basis; and    -   based on the calculated fuel properties, manage one or more fuel        production plants.

Context Interpreter 302 is operable to automatically and/or dynamicallyanalyze contextual criteria relating to a given request for analysis,and automatically determine or identify the type of fuel analysis to beperformed. According to different embodiments, examples of contextualcriteria that are analyzed may include, but are not limited to, one ormore of the following (or combinations thereof):

-   -   location-based criteria—e.g., geolocation of a biomass-based        fuel production plant and of a fuel customer or fuel combustion        site;    -   time-based criteria—e.g., time zone associated with the location        of a biomass-based fuel production plant and of a fuel customer        or fuel combustion site;    -   identity of a particular biomass-based fuel production plant        where biomass has been or is going to be analyzed;    -   identity of a particular fuel customer or fuel combustion site        that requires a fuel of a specified property;    -   profile information for both the biomass-based fuel production        plant and fuel customer or fuel combustion site;    -   historical information for both the biomass-based fuel        production plant and fuel customer or fuel combustion site        (e.g., the type of biomass a particular fuel production plant        available to it during a certain season of the year); and    -   recent production activities by a fuel production plant and        recent purchase activities by a fuel customer.

For example, in at least one embodiment, the Customized Fuel AnalysisServer System 300 of the present invention could collect trend data onpurchasing behavior and project how much fuel a particular fuel customerwould be purchasing during an upcoming season.

Time Synchronization Engine 304 is operable to manage universal timesynchronization (e.g., via NTP and/or GPS). User Account Profile Manager306 is operable to manage profiles information for both thebiomass-based fuel production plant and fuel customer or fuel combustionsite. User Interface Component(s) 308 is operable to manage interfacecomponent (e.g. interfaces 204 of FIG. 2). Network interface component310 is operable to manage those interfaces 204 that interface with thenetwork. Log Component(s) 312 is operable to generate and manage fuelanalysis history logs, system errors, and connections from APIs. StatusTracking Component(s) 314 is operable to automatically and/ordynamically determine, assign, and/or report updated requests for fuelanalysis, and provide status information based, for example, on thestate of the request. In at least one embodiment of the presentinvention, the status of a given request is reported as one or more ofthe following (or combinations thereof): Completed, Incomplete, Pending,Invalid, Error, Declined, and Accepted. Fuel Production ManagementSystems 316 is operable to manage a fuel production plant (e.g., FuelProduction System 102 b in a Fuel Production Plant 102 of FIG. 1),Quality Monitoring System 318 operates in a manner similar to QualityMonitoring System 104 a of FIG. 1 described herein.

Time Interpreter 320 is operable to automatically and/or dynamicallymodify or change identifier activation and expiration time(s) based onvarious criteria such as, for example, time, location, or requeststatus. Fuel Analysis Engine 322 is operable to handle various types ofrequest processing tasks such as, for example, one or more of thefollowing (or combinations thereof): identifying/determining requesttype and associating databases information to identifiers. DatabaseManager 324 is operable to handle various types of tasks relating todatabase updating, database management and database access. In at leastone embodiment, the Database Manager is operable to manage TISSdatabases. Configuration Engine 326 is operable to determine and handleconfiguration of various customized configuration parameters for one ormore devices, component(s), system(s), process(es), etc. Email servercomponent(s) 328 is configured or designed to provide various functionsand operations relating to email activities and communications. By wayof example, with reference to FIG. 1, information about the biomass fromBiomass-Based Fuel Production Plant 102 and/or information about fuelproperty from Fuel Customer 106 is provided to Fuel ProductionManagement Facility 104 by email. Web server component(s) 330 isconfigured or designed to provide various functions and operationsrelating to web server activities and communications. Messaging servercomponent(s) 332 is configured or designed to provide various functionsand operations relating to text messaging and/or other social networkmessaging activities and/or communications. Social networking may beused in the context of present invention in many ways, e.g., trackingtype and/or amount of biomass available from particular suppliers,establishing a bidding platform for purchase of biomass and/or fuel.

Display(s) 334 is operable to handle various tasks relating todisplaying information on a computer screen, for example. I/O Device(s)336 is operable to handle various tasks that require input and outputdevices, such as keyboards, mouse and computer display screens. DatabaseManager 338 is configured or designed to provide various functions andoperating relating to management of a database.Authentication/Validation Component(s) 340 (password, software/hardwareinfo, SSL certificates) which, for example, is operable to performvarious types of authentication/validation tasks such as:

-   -   verifying/authenticating devices;    -   verifying passwords, passcodes, SSL certificates, biometric        identification;    -   information, and/or other types of security-related information;        and    -   verifying/validating activation and/or expiration times.

In one implementation, the Authentication/Validation Component(s) isadapted to determine and/or authenticate the identity of the currentuser or owner of the mobile client system. For example, in oneembodiment of the present invention, the current user is required toperform a log-in process at the mobile client system in order to accessone or more features. In some embodiments, the mobile client system mayinclude biometric security components, which is operable to validateand/or authenticate the identity of a user by reading or scanning theuser's biometric information (e.g. fingerprints, face, voice, andeye/iris). In at least one implementation, various security features isincorporated into the mobile client system to prevent unauthorized usersfrom accessing confidential or sensitive information.

Communication Interface(s) 342 is operable to manage interface forcommunication applications, such as email and instant messaging, APIInterface(s) to 3rd Party Server System(s) 344 is operable to facilitateand manage communications and transactions with API Interface(s) to 3rdParty Server System(s).

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, processor(s) 346may include one or more commonly known CPUs that are deployed in many oftoday's consumer electronic devices, such as, for example, CPUs orprocessors from the Google (formerly Motorola) and/or the Intel familyof microprocessors. In an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, at least one processor is specially designed hardware forcontrolling the operations of the mobile client system. In a specificembodiment, a memory (such as non-volatile RAM and/or ROM) also formspart of CPU. when acting under the control of appropriate software orfirmware, the CPU is responsible for implementing specific functionsassociated with the functions of a desired network device. The CPUpreferably accomplishes all these functions under the control ofsoftware including an operating system, and any appropriate applicationssoftware.

Memory 348 may include volatile memory (e.g., RAM), non-volatile memory(e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory, and EPROMs), unalterable memory,and/or other types of memory. In at least one implementation of thepresent invention, memory 348 may include functionality similar to atleast a portion of functionality implemented by one or more commonlyknown memory devices such as those described herein and/or generallyknown to one having ordinary skill in the art. According to differentembodiments of the present invention, one or more memories or memorymodules (e.g., memory blocks) are configured or designed to store data,program instructions for the functional operations of the mobile clientsystem and/or other information relating to the functionality of thevarious fuel analysis techniques described h rein. The programinstructions may control the operation of an operating system and/or oneor more applications, for example. The memory or memories may also beconfigured to store data structures, metadata, identifierinformation/images, and/or information/data relating to otherfeatures/functions described herein. Because such information andprogram instructions is employed to implement at least a portion of thesystems located at Fuel Production Management Facility 104 describedherein, various aspects described herein is implemented usingmachine-readable media that include program instructions, and stateinformation.

Interface(s) 350 include wired interfaces and/or wireless interfaces. Inat least one implementation of the present invention, interface(s) 350include functionality similar to at least a portion of functionalityimplemented by one or more computer system interfaces such as thosedescribed herein (e.g., see Interfaces 204 of FIG. 2) and/or generallyknown to one having ordinary skill in the art. In at least oneembodiment of the present invention, Device Driver(s) 352 includefunctionality similar to at least a portion of functionality implementedby one or more computer system driver devices such as those describedherein and/or generally known to one having ordinary skill in the art.Peripheral Devices 354 include various peripheral devices, such asprinters, image scanners, tape drives, microphones, loudspeakers,webcams, and digital cameras.

Systems and method of the present invention provide, among other things,certain empirical correlations that are independent of the type ofbiomass. These correlations, either used individually or collectively,provide one or more fuel properties preferably to a biomass-based fuelproduction plant.

FIG. 4A shows a graph 400 where amounts of elemental content, such ascarbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), found in biomass on a dry,ash-free (“DAF”) basis, are plotted on a Y-axis (denoted by referencenumeral 404) and values of mass yield of fuel on a DAF basis are plottedon an X-axis (denoted by 402). The amount of elemental content isexpressed in units of kmol/kg of DAF initial biomass. Mass yield,defined as a ratio of mass of fuel (M) to an initial mass of biomass(M_(o)), is a dimensionless quantity. Both M and M_(o) have units ofmass.

In FIG. 4A, values for mass yield on a DAF basis are presented beginningwith a value of 1.0 at the origin and then gradually decreasing to avalue of 0.0 on the other end of X-axis. As biomass is processed toproduce fuel, value of M decreases because the mass of fuel depletesover the processing time. Given that value of M is a constant, the yieldis shown in FIG. 4A to decrease over a period of time. Those skilled inthe art will appreciate that although the yield is shown to decrease,the energy density of the fuel increases over the processing time. Inother words, although yield of fuel decreases over a period of time whenbiomass is subject to processing, there is an increase in yield of fuelhaving high energy density values over the same period of time. For sakeof simplicity, values plotted on Y-axis 404 may be thought of asproviding information on weight loss of biomass sample that is beingconverted to fuel.

FIG. 4A shows results for elemental content in diverse types of biomass,i.e., U.S. rice straw, U.S. sugarcane leaves, and U.S. corn stover. Theamount of elemental content in the initial biomass may be measured usingat least one member selected from a group consisting of a CHNS analyzer,a CHNO analyzer, a gaseous mass analyzer, a mass spectrometer, an IRspectrometer, and a thermal conductivity cell. By way of example, toarrive at the elemental contents shown in FIG. 4A, a Leco TruSpecAnalyzer, commercially available from LECO Corporation, St. Joseph,Mich.

In FIG. 4A, yield, M/M_(o) was computed by measuring both M and M_(o).By way of example, about 20 grams of each type of biomass wasthermochemically treated at different times and temperatures in aGCF1300 Inert Gas Furnace, commercially available from AcrossInternational of Berkeley Heights, N.J. As a result, a value for M_(o)was ascertained before treating the different types of biomass. Massyield was measured for each thermochemical experiment (i.e., each typeof biomass was weighed before and after the thermochemical treatment).This direct measurement of M and M, however, provided values on anas-received basis (i.e., the values reflect the presence of ash andmoisture). For the data plotted in FIG. 4A (as well as FIGS. 4B, 7, 8and 9), which show values on a dry, ash-free basis, samples of theinitial biomass and the resulting thermochemically treated samples weredried, asked and weighed again after each drying and ashing step in aLeco TGA 701, which is commercially available from LECO Corporation ofSt. Joseph, Mich. Such steps were implemented to determine the amount ofmoisture and ash in both the biomass and the thermochemically treatedsamples. The measurements for both M and M were then corrected formoisture and ash to produce values on a dry, ash-free basis. Thus, theratio of the corrected values of M and M is the mass yield on a dry,ash-free basis shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 7, 8 and 9, which are discussed ingreater detail below. The above-described steps were not only carriedout for all mass yield measurements described herein, but was alsocarried out for obtaining values of other fuel properties describedhere, i.e., higher heating value, volatile matter, carbon content,oxygen content and hydrogen content. Other equipment used to obtainvalues for such fuel properties is provided below in greater detail. Itis noteworthy that measurement of other fuel properties, such as themeasurement of mass yield, is provided on an as-received basis, whichrefers to dry basis. To provide corresponding values for these fuelproperties on a dry, mention LECO TGA 701.

After the results obtained from measurements of elemental content andyield were plotted in FIG. 4A, linear regression analysis was conducted.A linear relationship for each of carbon 406, oxygen 408, and hydrogen410 was obtained.

Linear relationship for carbon 406 is expressed by the followingequation:

(C _(DAF)/112.01)*(M/M ₀)_(DAF)=(μ/12.01)*(M/M₀)_(DAF)+(ν/12.01)  (Equation 1)

In Equation 1, μ and ν are empirically derived constants. Furthermore, μis a value that is between about 20 and 50, preferably between about 35and about 36, and ν is a value that is between about 8 and about 25,preferably between about 15 and about 16. As explained above, C_(DAF)and (M/M₀)_(DAF) in Equation 1 refer to carbon and mass yield on a DAFbasis, respectively.

Linear relationships for oxygen 408 and for hydrogen 410 were alsosimilarly developed and are expressed in a similar manner below. Linearrelationship for oxygen 408 is expressed by the following equation:

(O _(DAF)/16)*(M/M ₀)_(DAF)=(π/16)*(M/M ₀)_(DAF)−(ρ/16)  (Equation 2)

In Equation 2, π is a value that is between about 30 and about 70,preferably between about 57 and about 58 and ρ is a value that isbetween about 8 and about 25, preferably between about 15 and about 16.

Linear relationship for hydrogen 410 is expressed as:

(H _(DAF)/1.008)*(M/M ₀)_(DAF)=(ξ/1.008)*(M/M₀)_(DAF)−(o/1.008)  (Equation 3)

In Equation 3, ε is a value that is between about 2 and about 12,preferably between about 6 and about 8, and o is a value that is betweenabout 0.2 and about 1, preferably between about 0.7 and about 0.8.

For each linear relationships 406, 408 and 410 shown in FIG. 4A, a rootmean square value, R² value, also known in the art as a “goodness offit,” was computed to obtain insight into the strength of thecorrelation expressed in Equations 1, 2, and 3. For Equations 1-3, R² isabout 0.97, 0.99 and 0.99, respectively. According to the presentinvention, regardless of the type of agro-waste or, in the alternative,type of biomass used to produce fuel, there is a strong correlationbetween the amount of each element (i.e., carbon, hydrogen and oxygen)and mass yield in the DAF regime. In other words, the present inventionhas established that in the DAF regime, the amount of elemental contentand the mass yield enjoy a strong correlation independent of the type ofunderlying agro-waste or biomass used to produce fuel. This isparticularly of interest because in the dry basis regime, in which mostof the fuel specifications are provided and transactions for purchase ofare carried out, such correlations between elemental content and massyield simply do not exist.

FIG. 4B shows a graph similar to graph 400 of FIG. 4A where data pointsto arrive at the plots shown in FIG. 4B were obtained in a mannersimilar to those obtained to generate the plots shown in FIG. 4A, exceptthe Y-axis in FIG. 4B shows values for elemental mass percentage havingunits of percent (%) on a DAF basis. Instead of all linear relationshipsas shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B shows certain non-linear relationships.From the plots for carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen shown in FIG. 4B, thefollowing correlations are derived and correspond to Equations 1-3,respectively:

C _(DAF)=μ+ν/(M/M ₀)_(DAF)  (Equation 4)

H _(DAF) =ξ−o/(M/M ₀)_(DAF)  (Equation 5)

O _(DAF)=π−ρ/(M/M ₀)_(DAF)  (Equation 6)

In Equations 4, 5 and 6, the variables (i.e., C_(DAF), H_(DAF), O_(DAF)and M/M₀) are the same as those described in Equations 1-3. Similarly,constants, μ, ν, ξ, π and ρ have the same values in Equations 4-6 asthey do in Equations 1-3.

Equations 1-3, which are based on normalized values of elemental content(i.e., value of elemental content is multiplied by yield, M/M₀),represent a preferred embodiment of the present invention over Equations4-6 because it is easier to fit a straight line to experimental data andachieve equations that show a strong correlation between the elementalcontent and mass yield in the DAF regime.

FIG. 5 shows a graph 500 where a higher heating value (HHV) for aparticular biomass (i.e., U.S. rice straw, U.S. sugarcane leaves or U.S.corn stover) is plotted on a Y-axis (denoted by 504) and a ratio ofamount of carbon to amount of oxygen (represented by “C/O”) present inbiomass is plotted on an X-axis (denoted by 502). HHV is expressed inunits of kcal/kg of fuel and represents the amount of heat produced bythe complete combustion of a unit quantity of fuel. Although values ofamount of carbon and of oxygen may have any suitable units that conveyan amount of element contained in biomass, in preferred embodiments ofthe present invention, carbon and oxygen have units of percent (o), byweight.

In FIG. 5, HHV values are presented on a DAF basis in a plot 506, andpresented on a dry basis in plots 508, 510 and 512. Those skilled in theart will recognize that C/O is a dimensionless quantity, and it does notmatter whether the ratio is expressed on a DAF basis or on a dry basis,because in either basis the ratio would have the same value. C/O isobtained by computing the ratio of the amount of carbon to the amount ofoxygen, where the amounts were determined using the techniques describedin connection with FIG. 4A.

As explained below, values of HHV on a DAF basis were calculated frommeasured values of HHV on a dry basis. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, values of HHV on a dry basis are obtained measured using atleast one member selected from a group consisting of a bomb calorimeter,a differential thermal analyzer (DTA), and a differential scanningcalorimeter (DSC). To arrive at values of HHV on a dry basis fordeveloping the correlations of the present invention, LECO AC600 Bombcalorimeter, which is commercially available from LECO Corporation ofSt. Joseph, Mich., was used.

The present invention recognizes that to obtain values of HHV on a DAFbasis from measured values of HHV on a dry basis, preferred embodimentsof the present invention require knowledge of amounts of ash content ona dry basis (represented by “A_(dry)” in Equation 7 below) in the fuel,which is ultimately produced after processing of biomass. Knowledge ofA_(dry), in turn, preferably requires measuring the amounts of initialash content present in the unprocessed biomass.

For each type of biomass, initial ash content (represented in Equations7 and 9 as “A_(o,dry)”) may be measured using at least one memberselected from a group consisting of a muffle furnace, an inert mufflefurnace, a high temperature oven, a solid fuel burner, athermo-gravimetric analyzer, an infrared (“IR”) spectrometer, a nearinfrared (“NIR”) spectrometer, a gamma ray absorber, an X-rayfluorescence spectrometer and a microwave absorber.

To measure the amount of initial ash content of the biomass and arriveat the correlation presented in FIG. 5, the above-mentioned LECO TGA 701analyzer was used.

From known amounts of initial ash content of biomass (i.e., A_(o,dry))and known values of mass yield on a DAF basis (i.e., (M/M₀)_(DAF)), anamount of ash content on a dry basis (A_(dry)) in the fuel is calculatedaccording to the following expression:

A _(dry)=100/(((M/M ₀)_(DAF)*(100−A _(0,dry))/A _(0,dry))+1)  (Equation7)

Using A_(dry) and Equation 13, values of HHV on a dry basis areconverted to values for that on a DAF basis. Plot 506 of FIG. 5 wasdeveloped using values of HHV on a DAF basis, and values of C/O. Byperforming a curve-fitting analysis on plot 506, the present inventionprovides the following correlation:

HHV _(DAF)=−(α/(C/O))*ln(β*(C/O)−γ)+δ  (Equation 8)

In Equation 7, “HHV_(DAF)” represents HHV on a DAF basis, and α is avalue that is between about 200 and about 300 and preferably betweenabout 260 and 261, β is a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about1×10⁸ and preferably between about 5×10⁷ and about 6×10⁷, γ is a valuethat is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸ and preferably between about5×10⁷ and about 6×10⁷, and δ is a value that is between about 7000 andabout 9000 and preferably between about 8200 and 8300.

Similarly, using values of HHV on a dry basis (represented below as(“HHV)_(dry)”), each of plots 508, 510 and 512 are expressed as:

HHV _(dry)=[−(α/(C/O))*ln(β*(C/O)−γ)+δ]*[(ν+ρ*(C/O))*(100−A_(0,dry))/((νρ*(C/O))*(100−A _(0,dry))+A_(0,dry)*((C/O)π−μ))]  (Equation 9)

In Equation 9, α, β, γ and δ have the same values as shown above withrespect to Equation 8. Furthermore, ν is a value that is between about 5and 25 and preferably between about 15 and about 16, ρ is a value thatis between about 8 and 25 and preferably between about 15 and about 16,π is a value that is between about 30 and about 70 and preferablybetween about 57 and about 58, and μ is a value that is between about 20and about 50 and preferably between about 35 and about 36.

As shown by plots 508, 510 and 512 in FIG. 5, the correlation betweenMTV and CIO in the dry basis regime depends on the initial ash contentof the biomass. For example, the particular batches of U.S. corn stover,U.S. sugarcane leaves, and U.S. rice straw that were tested each have aninitial ash content of 4%, 8% and 15%′, respectively. Thus, as the ashcontents vary, so too does the correlation between (HHV)_(dry) and C/O.Moreover, as the amount of initial ash content in biomass increases,lower values of HHV are realized at different values of C/O.

In the DAF regime, the present invention has surprisingly andunexpectedly found this not to hold true. According to Equation 7 andplot 506 in FIG. 5, in the DAF regime, there exists a strong correlationvalue of R² for plot 506 is about 0.97) between values of HHV and C/Othat is independent of biomass type. Stated another way, the presentinvention establishes that, regardless of the type of biomass used forproducing fuel, values of HHV and C/O enjoy a strong correlation in theDAF regime.

By way of example, if a Fuel Customer 106 of FIG. 1 specifies a desiredvalue for (HHV)_(dry), then according to the present invention using theinventive correlation presented in Equation 8 in conjunction withEquations 7 and 13, a corresponding value for C/O is obtained. Equation8 is similarly used to obtain a value for HHV_(DAF) if a value for C/Ois provided. If necessary, using equation 7, values for HHV_(DAF) areconverted to HHV_(dry).

FIG. 6 shows a graph 600 where values for C/O are plotted on a Y-axis(denoted by 604), and amounts of volatile matter on a DAF basis areplotted on an X-axis (denoted by 602). Values for C/O shown in FIG. 6are similar to the values presented for the ratio in FIG. 5, and areobtained in a manner similar to that described for the ratio inconnection with FIG. 5.

Amount of volatile matter is expressed in units of percent (%), byweight. For each type of biomass, the amount of volatile matter on a DAFbasis (represented in Equation 10 below as “VM_(DAF)”) may be determinedusing at least one member selected from a group consisting of a mufflefurnace, an inert muffle furnace, a high temperature oven, a solid fuelburner, a thermo-gravimetric analyzer, an IR spectrometer, a NIRspectrometer, a gamma ray absorber and a microwave absorber. To arriveat the amount of volatile matter of the biomass presented in FIG. 6, theabove-mentioned LECO TGA 701 analyzer was used.

A plot 606 was obtained using amounts of volatile matter on a DAF basisand corresponding values of C/O. As shown in FIG. 6, by performing acurve-fitting analysis on plot 606, the present invention provides thefollowing correlation:

(C/O)=(μλ+νκ−ν*VM _(DAF))/(ρ*VM _(DAF)+πλ−ρκ)  (Equation 10)

In Equation 10, ν, π, ρ and μ have the same values as in Equation 9.Furthermore, κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120 andpreferably between about 107 and about 108, and λ has a value that isbetween about 10 and about 35 and preferably between about 22 and about23.

It is clear from FIG. 6 that regardless of the type of biomass used toproduce fuel, the present invention provides a strong correlationbetween values of C/O and VM_(DAF). Thus, for any type of biomass, if avalue for C/O is known, a value for VM_(DAF) may be obtained usingEquation 10. The converse is also true, i.e., for a known value ofVM_(DAF) for any type of biomass, a value for C/O may be obtained usingEquation 10.

FIG. 7 shows a graph 700 in which amounts of VM_(DAF) are plotted on aY-axis (denoted by 704) and values for mass yield on a DAF basis, i.e.,(M/M_(o))_(DAF), are plotted on an X-axis (denoted by 702). Values for(M/M_(o))_(DAF) shown in FIG. 7 are similar to the values presented forthe ratio in FIG. 4A, and are obtained in a manner similar to thatdescribed for the ratio in connection with FIG. 4A and to developEquations 1-6.

Amount of VM_(DAF) present in the biomass is expressed in units of kg ofvolatile matter/100 kg of dry, ash free unprocessed biomass. For eachtype of biomass, amount of volatile matter shown in FIG. 7 is obtainedin a manner similar to that described for Equation 10, except the valuesalong the Y-axis were normalized by multiplying the obtained volatilematter values with values for mass yield, M/M_(o).

As shown in FIG. 7, a plot 706 was developed using amounts of volatilematter as discussed above and corresponding values of mass yield on aDAF basis (represented as “(M/M_(o))_(DAF)”). By performing acurve-fitting analysis on plot 706, the present invention provides thefollowing correlation:

VM _(DAF)*(M/M ₀)_(DAF)=κ*(M/M ₀)_(DAF)−λ  (Equation 11)

In Equation 11, constants κ and λ have the same values and preferredvalues as described in connection with Equation 10.

As with other correlations provided by the present invention, it isclear from FIG. 7 that regardless of the type of biomass used to producefuel, the present invention provides a strong correlation between valuesof VM_(DAF). Thus, for any type of biomass, if a value for VM_(DAF) isknown, a value for (M/M_(o))_(DAF) may be obtained using Equation 11.The converse is also true, i.e., for a known value of (M/M_(o))_(DAF)for any type of biomass, a value for VM_(DAF) may be obtained usingEquation 11.

FIG. 8 shows a graph 800 similar to graph 700 of FIG. 7, where datapoints to arrive at the plots shown in FIG. 8 were Obtained in a mannersimilar to those obtained to generate the plots shown in FIG. 7, exceptthe Y-axis in FIG. 8 shows values for volatile matter having units ofpercent (%) on a DAF basis. Values of volatile matter in FIG. 8 were notnormalized as they are in FIG. 7. A plot 806 was developed using valuesof VM_(DAF) and (M/M_(o))_(DAF). A curve fitting-analysis was performedon plot 806. Accordingly, the present invention provides the followingcorrelation for VM_(DAF) and (M/M_(o))_(DAF):

Blade 106 is composed of any material that is rigid enough to handle theenergy impinging upon it. Preferably, blade 106 is made from aluminum.In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, blade 106has a helical shape having a radius of curvature that is between about1.0 m and about 3.0 m. A length of blade 106 is preferably between about3.0 m and about 6.0 m and a thickness of blade 106 is preferably betweenabout 1.0 inch and about 3.0 inches.

VM _(DAF)=κ−(λ/(M/M ₀)_(DAF))  (Equation 12)

In Equations 12, constants K and have the same values and preferredvalues, as described for Equations 10 and 11. Equation 11, which isbased on normalized values of volatile matter on a DAF basis, representsa preferred embodiment of the present invention over Equation 12 becauseit is easier to fit a straight line to experimental data and achieve anequation that shows a strong correlation (according to FIG. 7, R² isabout 0.99 for Equation 11) between values for volatile matter and massyield in the DAF regime.

FIG. 9 shows values of ash content as a percent (%), by weight, on a drybasis, plotted on a Y-axis denoted by 904), and values of (M/M₀)_(DAF)are plotted on an X-axis (denoted by 902). Values for ash content andmass yield were obtained using techniques described above, and plots906, 908 and 910 were developed as shown in FIG. 9. Each of plots 906,908 and 910 are associated with a particular type of biomass. Followinga curve-fitting analysis on plots 906, 908 and 910, the presentinvention recognizes that the correlation presented in Equation 7 issatisfied.

Correlations presented in Equations 7-12 of the present invention allowfor determination of the ash content in the fuel based on one fuelproperty (e.g., HHV), which is typically provided on a dry basis by aFuel Customer 106 of FIG. 1. To this end, FIG. 10 shows a flowchart fora process 1000 to determine a value for ash content on a dry basis basedon a specified fuel property, such as HHV_(dry).

A step 1002 includes receiving a predetermined fuel property on a drybasis. By way of example, a specific value for HHV_(dry) is receivedfrom a fuel customer. In other words, a fuel customer may place arequest for purchasing a fuel having a particular value of HHV_(dry).

Next, a step 1004 includes determining a value of C/O. Continuing withthe above example of a request for a specified value of HHV_(dry),Equation 9 is used to determine a corresponding value of C/O.

Then a step 1006 involves correlating a value of C/O to a value forVM_(DAF). According to this step, a value for VM_(DAF) may be determinedfrom a value of C/O using Equation 10.

A step 1008 includes arriving at a value for (M/M₀)_(DAF) based upon avalue of VM_(DAF) obtained from step 1006. In this step, (M/M₀)_(DAF)may be determined from the value of VM_(DAF) using Equation 11.

A step 1010 includes determining a value for ash content on a dry basis(A_(dry)) that corresponds to the value for (M/M₀)_(DAF) from step 1008.By way of example, a value far A_(dry) is determined from a value of(M/M₀)_(DAF) using Equation 12.

The present invention recognizes that after A_(dry) is determined (i.e.,ash content of the fuel is known), then bridge equations (i.e.,Equations 13-19 presented below) may be used to convert fuel propertiesfrom the DAF regime back to the dry regime. Equations 13-19 are thoughtof as “bridge equations” because, as explained below, they serve as abridge between the dry regime and the DAF regime, and vice versa. Asmentioned above, fuel specifications are provided in and transactionsfor purchase of fuel are carried out in the dry basis regime, wherevarious fuel properties simply do not correlate. According to thepresent invention, fuel properties enjoy strong correlations in the DAFregime. As a result, the bridge equations allow conversion of aspecified fuel property, typically desired by a Fuel Customer 106 ofFIG. 1, from a dry regime to a DAF regime, where fuel properties enjoystrong correlations (e.g., Equations 1-12), as advanced by the presentinvention, to compute at least one other fuel property in the DAFregime. One or more of the bridge equations allows conversion of the atleast one other computed fuel property in the DAF regime back to the dryregime.

The bridge equations of the present invention include:

$\begin{matrix}{{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 13} \right) \\{{FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 14} \right) \\{{VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 15} \right) \\{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 16} \right) \\{H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 17} \right) \\{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 18} \right) \\{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 19} \right)\end{matrix}$

Equation 13 expresses a relationship that allows computing HHV_(dry)from HHV_(DAF), and vice versa. Equation 14 is directed to fixed carbon(“FC”) and expresses a relationship that allows computing FC_(dry) fromFC_(DAF), and vice versa. As a side note, immediately after biomass isprocessed to fuel, typically there are negligible amounts of or no,moisture left. In the DAF regime, therefore, as a practical matter, thefollowing equation holds true:

VM _(DAF) +FC _(DAF)=100  (Equation 20)

Thus, FC_(DAF) is easily calculated from VM_(DAF).

According to Equation 15, VM_(dry) may also be calculated from VM_(DAF),and vice versa. Equations 16-19 similarly provide relationships forcarbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and mass yield such that their values in thedry regime can be obtained from their values in the DAF regime, and viceversa.

Although process 1000 is explained using an example in which a fuelcustomer places a request for a desired value of HHV_(dry), thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that at least some of Equations 7-19may similarly be used to arrive at A_(dry), if the customer requestsfuel having specific values of one or more of other fuel propertiese.g., FC_(dry), VM_(dry), C_(dry), H_(dry), O_(dry) or (M/M_(o))_(dry)).

According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention andwith reference to FIG. 1, Fuel Production Management Facility 104obtains from Biomass-Based Fuel Production Plant 102 a value for anamount of initial ash content of biomass on a dry basis (A_(o,dry)) andserves to guide Biomass-Based Fuel Production Plant 102 to producebiomass-based fuel for sale. In this embodiment, Fuel ProductionManagement Facility 104 receives a request from Fuel Customer 106regarding a request to purchase fuel having a predetermined value of afuel property on a dry basis (e.g., FC_(dry), VM_(dry), C_(dry),H_(dry), O_(dry) or (M/M_(o))_(dry)). To meet the purchase request, FuelProduction Management Facility 104 may convey to Biomass-Based FuelProduction Plant 102 or, in the alternative, compute for their ownbenefit one value of another fuel property on a dry basis because suchvalue of another property provides insight into the manner in which theavailable biomass should be processed to meet the particular needs ofFuel Customer 106. As mentioned above to compute one other value of fuelon a dry basis, ash content of fuel on a dry basis (A_(dry)) ispreferably first determined. To this end, Fuel Production ManagementFacility 104 may compute A_(dry) using the known value of A_(o,dry), thespecified or predetermined value of a fuel property and by solving atleast one equation from a first set of equations and at least oneequation from a second set of equations. The first set of equationsincludes Equations 13-19 and the second set of equations includes 4-8and 11-12.

In accordance with one embodiment, the value of A_(dry) computedaccording to the present invention is conveyed to Biomass-Based FuelProduction Plant 102 for facilitating processing of biomass or to FuelCustomer 106 for facilitating combustion of fuel. In preferredembodiments of the present invention, the value of A_(dry) is conveyedto Biomass-Based Fuel Production Plant 102 for processing of biomass toproduce fuel or to Fuel Customer 106 for combusting the ultimatelyproduced fuel. In those embodiments, where A_(dry) is conveyed forbiomass processing, preferably thermo-chemical processing in atorrefaction chamber is carried out. In preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, GCF 1300 Inert Gas Furnace, which is commerciallyavailable from Across International of Berkeley Heights, N.J., is used.

According to other preferred embodiments of the present invention, FuelProduction Management Facility 104 obtains from Biomass-Based FuelProduction Plant 102 a value for an amount of initial ash content ofbiomass on a dry basis (A_(o,dry)) and serves to guide Biomass-BasedFuel Production Plant 102 to produce biomass-based fuel for sale. Inthis embodiment, Fuel Production Management Facility 104 receives arequest from Fuel Customer 106 regarding a request to purchase fuelhaving a predetermined or, in the alternative, specified ash content(A_(dry)). To meet the purchase request, Fuel Production ManagementFacility 104 may convey to Biomass-Based Fuel Production Plant 102, orin the alternative, compute for its own benefit one value of anotherfuel property on a dry basis because such value of another fuel propertyprovides insight into the manner in which the available biomass may beprocessed to meet the particular needs of Fuel Customer 106. To thisend, Fuel Production Management Facility 104 may compute a value of theother fuel property by solving Equation 7, and by solving at least oneequation from a first set of equations and at least one equation from asecond set of equations. The first set of equations in this embodimentincludes Equations 4-8 and 11-12, and the second set of equationsincludes Equations 13-19.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising: obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash on a dry basis of biomass, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing information regarding a predetermined value of a higher heating value of said fuel on a dry basis or information regarding a predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel; using a microprocessor for computing said value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis from said information regarding said predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel when said information regarding said predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen is obtained from said accessing, or computing said value of said ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel from said information regarding said predetermined value of said higher heating value of said fuel on a dry basis when said information regarding said higher heating value is obtained from said accessing, and said computing said value of higher heating value or ratio of carbon to oxygen according to an expression: ${HHV}_{dry} = {\left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack*{\quad\left\lbrack \frac{\left( {v + {\rho \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}} \right)*\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{{\left( {v + {\rho \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}} \right)*\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)} + {A_{0,{dry}}\left( {{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)\pi} - \mu} \right)}} \right\rbrack}}$ wherein HHV_(dry) represents said higher heating value of said fuel having units of kcal/kg on said dry basis, said A_(0,dry) represents said amount of initial ash on a dry basis of said biomass having units of percent, by weight, said C represents an amount of carbon in said fuel, said O represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel, said C and O have units of percent, by weight, and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300, said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25; and processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis or using said ratio of carbon to oxygen.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein said α has a value that is between about 260 and about
 261. 3. The process of claim 1, wherein said β has a value that is between about 5×10⁷ and about 6×10⁷.
 4. The process of claim 1, wherein said γ has a value that is between about 5×10⁷ and about 6×10⁷.
 5. The process of claim 1, wherein said δ has a value that is between about 8200 and about
 8300. 6. The process of claim 1, wherein said μ has a value that is between about 35 and about
 36. 7. The process of claim 1, wherein said ν has a value that is between about 15 and about
 16. 8. The process of claim 1, wherein said π has a value that is between about 57 and about
 58. 9. The process of claim 1, wherein said ρ has a value that is between about 15 and about
 16. 10. The process of claim 1, wherein said amount of carbon and said amount of oxygen in said fuel has units of percent, by weight.
 11. The process of claim 1, wherein said accessing is carried out using a computer interface.
 12. The process of claim 1, wherein said obtaining includes obtaining said value for said amount of initial ash using at least one means selected from a group consisting of a muffle furnace, a high temperature oven, a solid fuel burner, a thereto-gravimetric analyzer, an infrared (IR) spectrometer, a near infrared (NIR) spectrometer, a gamma ray absorber, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and a microwave absorber.
 13. The process of claim 1, wherein said processing is thereto-chemical processing.
 14. A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising: obtaining information regarding a predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel or information regarding a predetermined amount of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from biomass; using a microprocessor for computing said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel from said information regarding said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis when said information regarding said amount of volatile matter is obtained from said Obtaining, or computing said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis from said information regarding said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen when said information regarding said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen is obtained from said obtaining, and said computing said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen or said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis according to an expression: $\left( \frac{C}{O} \right) = \frac{{\mu\lambda} + {v\; \kappa} - {v\; {VM}_{DAF}}}{{\rho \; {VM}_{DAF}} + {\pi \; \lambda} - {\rho \; \kappa}}$ wherein said VM_(DAF) represents said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis and having units of percent, by weight, said C represents an amount of carbon in said fuel, said O represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel, and said C and O have units of percentage, by weight, and wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25; and processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen or said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
 15. The process of claim 14, wherein said κ has a value that is between about 107 and about
 108. 16. The process of claim 14, wherein said λ has a value that is between about 22 and about
 23. 17. The process of claim 14, wherein said π has a value that is between about 35 and about
 36. 18. The process of claim 14, wherein said ν has a value that is between about 15 and about
 16. 19. The process of claim 14, wherein π has a value that is between about 57 and about
 58. 20. The process of claim 14, wherein said ρ has a value that is between about 15 and about
 16. 21. The process of claim 14, wherein said amount of carbon and said amount of oxygen in said fuel has units of molar mass or mass.
 22. The process of claim 14, wherein said Obtaining is carried out using a computer interface.
 23. The process of claim 14, wherein said processing is carried out in at least one member selected from a group consisting of a torrefaction chamber, an inert muffle furnace, an inert gas-purged oven, an inert gas-purged kiln, a covered inert chamber and a covered earthen pit.
 24. The process of claim 14, wherein said processing is thermo-chemical processing.
 25. The process of claim 14, where said amount of volatile matter of said fuel has units of percent, by weight.
 26. A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising: obtaining information regarding a predetermined amount of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or information regarding a predetermined value of yield of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from biomass; using a microprocessor for computing said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis from said information regarding said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis when said information regarding said yield is obtained from said obtaining, or computing said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis from said information regarding said amount of volatile matter when said information regarding said amount of volatile matter is obtained from said obtaining, and said computing said value volatile matter or said yield according to an expression: ${VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}$ wherein said VM_(DAF) represents said amount of said volatile matter having units of percent, by weight, of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents yield of said fuel of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ represents mass of said biomass, and wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about
 35. processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or said yield of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis.
 27. The process of claim 26, wherein κ has a value that is between about 107 and about
 108. 28. The process of claim 26, wherein λ has a value that is between about 22 and about
 23. 29. The process of claim 26, wherein said volatile matter has units of percent, by weight.
 30. The process of claim 26, wherein said M and said M₀ have units of mass.
 31. The process of claim 26, wherein said processing is carried out in at least one member selected from a group consisting of a torrefaction chamber, an inert muffle furnace, an inert gas-purged oven, an inert gas-purged kiln, a covered inert chamber and a covered earthen pit.
 32. A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising: obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash on a dry basis of biomass, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing information regarding a predetermined value of yield of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or information regarding a predetermined ash content of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis from said information regarding said ash content of said fuel on said dry basis when said information regarding said ash content of said fuel is obtained from said accessing, or computing said ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from said information regarding yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, when said information regarding yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis is obtained from said accessing, and computing said value of yield or said ash content of said fuel according to an expression: $A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}$ wherein said M/M₀ represents yield of said fuel, said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ represents mass of said biomass, and said A_(dry) represents said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis having units of percent, by weight, and said A_(0,dry) represents said amount of initial ash on said dry basis of said biomass having units of percent, by weight; and processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis or said ash content of said fuel on said dry basis.
 33. The process of claim 32, wherein said accessing is carried out using a computer interface.
 34. The process of claim 32, wherein said processing is carried out in a torrefaction chamber, an inert muffle furnace, an inert gas-purged oven, an inert gas-purged kiln, a covered inert chamber, or a covered earthen pit.
 35. The process of claim 32, wherein said M and said M₀ have units of mass.
 36. The process of claim 32, wherein said ash content of said fuel has units of percent by weight.
 37. The process of claim 32, wherein said initial ash of said biomass has units of percent by weight.
 38. A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising: obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis and said predetermined value of said property of said fuel by solving at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, wherein the first set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{{and}\text{}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$ said second set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$ ${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}};$ wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis, said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ is mass of said biomass, said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon on said dry basis, said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon on said dry, ash-free basis, said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry basis, said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of biomass yield on said dry basis, and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300, said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, and wherein said predetermined value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of ash content on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of carbon on said dry basis, and said value of oxygen on said dry basis; and processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis.
 39. The process of claim 38, wherein said first sot of equations further includes: $H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$ and said second set of equations further includes: $H_{DAF} = {\xi - \frac{o}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}$ wherein said H_(dry) represents an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on said dry basis, said H_(DAF) represents an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and wherein said group of said predetermined value of said property of said fuel further includes said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis, and wherein said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12, and said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about
 1. 40. The process of claim 38, wherein said first set of equations further includes: ${VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$ and said second set of equations further includes: ${VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}$ wherein said VM_(dry) represents a value of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry basis, and said VM_(DAF) represents an amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about
 35. wherein said group of predetermined value of said property of said fuel further includes said value of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry basis.
 41. The process of claim 38, wherein said first set of equations further includes: ${FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$ and said second set of equations further includes: FC _(DAF)=100−VM _(DAF) wherein said FC_(dry) represents a value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry basis, said FC_(DAF) represents a value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and wherein said group of predetermined value of said property of said fuel further includes said value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry basis.
 42. The process of claim 38, further comprising computing said value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression: ${HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 43. The process of claim 38, further comprising computing said amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression: $C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 44. The process of claim 38, further comprising computing said amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression: $O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 45. The process of claim 38, further comprising computing said value of yield of said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression: $\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}$
 46. The process of claim 39, further comprising computing said amount of hydrogen in said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression: $H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 47. The process of claim 40, further comprising computing said value of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression: ${VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 48. The process of claim 41, further comprising computing said value of fixed carbon of said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression: ${FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 49. A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising: obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing a predetermined value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a desired value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass dry basis and said predetermined value of said ash content of said fuel by solving a yield equation, solving at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, wherein the yield equation includes: ${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}},$ and said second set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{H_{DAF} = {\xi - \frac{o}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{{VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{{{{and}{FC}_{DAF}} = {100 - {V\; M_{DAF}}}};}$ and said first set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{{and}\text{}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$ wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis, said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dr) ash-free basis, and said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ represents mass of said biomass, said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis, said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis, said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry basis, said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry basis, and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300, said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35, said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25, said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, and wherein said desired value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of fixed carbon on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of volatile matter on said dry basis, said amount of carbon on said dry basis, said amount of oxygen on said dry basis and said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis; and processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said desired value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis.
 50. The process of claim 49, wherein said obtaining includes analyzing said biomass to determine said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis using at least member selected from a group consisting of a muffle furnace, a high temperature oven, a solid fuel burner, a thermo-gravimetric analyzer, an infrared spectrometer, a near infrared spectrometer, a gamma ray absorber and a microwave absorber.
 51. The process of claim 49, wherein said receiving includes receiving said predetermined value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from any one of a fuel manufacturer, a biomass processing plant, an energy producer or from a feedback loop in a process control system.
 52. The process of claim 49, wherein each of said mass of said fuel, said mass of said biomass before processing, said amount of initial ash of said biomass and said ash content of said fuel has units of percent by weight.
 53. A process for facilitating production of a fuel on a dry basis, said process comprising: obtaining a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being based on biomass; determining a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis that corresponds to said predetermined value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis; correlating said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; arriving at a value for yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis by using said value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; computing using at least one microprocessor a value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis that corresponds to said value of yield on said dry, ash-free basis; facilitating production of said fuel from said biomass using said value for ash content of said fuel; and wherein each of said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel, said value for volatile matter of said fuel, said value of yield of said fuel and said value of ash content of said fuel are independent of type of said biomass used in said formulation.
 54. The process of claim 52, wherein said biomass includes one or more types of agro waste, and each of said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel, said value of volatile matter of said fuel, said value of yield of said fuel and said value of ash content of said fuel is independent of said one or more types of agro waste used in said formulation.
 55. The process of claim 53, wherein said agro waste is one member selected from a group consisting of wood, guinea grass, rice straw, sugar cane leaves, cotton stalks, mustard stalks, pine needles, coffee husks, coconut husks, rice husks, mustard husks, weed straw, corn stover, sugar cane bagasse, millet stalks, pulses stalks, sweet sorghum stalks, nut shells, animal manure, guar husk, acacia totalis, julia flora, jatropha residue, wild grass, pigeon beans, pearl millet, barley, dry chili, gran jowar, linseed, maize/corn, lentil, mung bean, sunflower, til, oil seed stalks, pulses/millets, black gram, sawan, soybean stalks, cow gram, horse gram, finger millet, turmeric, castor seed, meshta, sannhamp, and hemp.
 56. The process of claim 53, wherein a computer interface is present at a client computer that is connected to a computer server, and said obtaining includes receiving said predetermined value of said property on said dry basis from said client computer.
 57. The process of claim 56, further comprising processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said value of ash content of said fuel on a dry basis.
 58. The process of claim 53, further comprising computing information regarding said fuel on said dry basis by accounting for said amount of ash content in said fuel,
 59. The process of claim 53, wherein said determining includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio are correlated to a plurality of predetermined values of said property of said fuel.
 60. The process of claim 59, wherein said property of said fuel is higher heating value, and said value of carbon to oxygen ratio on said dry, ash-free basis relates to a value of higher heating value on said dry basis according to the following expression: ${HHV}_{dry} = {\left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack*{\quad\left\lbrack \frac{\left( {v + {\rho \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}} \right)*\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{{\left( {v + {\rho \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}} \right)*\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)} + {A_{0,{dry}}\left( {{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)\pi} - \mu} \right)}} \right\rbrack}}$ wherein said HHV_(dry) represents said value of higher heating value on a cry basis, said C represents an amount of carbon, said O represents an amount of oxygen, said C and said O have units of percent by weight; and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300, said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about
 25. 61. The process of claim 53, wherein said correlating includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
 62. The process of claim 61, wherein said plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio on said dry, ash-free basis relates to said plurality of values of volatile matter on said dry, ash-free basis according to the following expression: $\left( \frac{C}{O} \right) = \frac{{\mu \; \lambda} + {v\; \kappa} - {v\; {VM}_{DAF}}}{{\rho \; {VM}_{DAF}} + {\pi \; \lambda} - {\rho \; \kappa}}$ wherein VM_(DAF) represents said amount of said volatile matter and as units of percent, by weight, of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said C represents an amount of carbon in said fuel, said O represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel, and said C and said O have units of percent, by weight, wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about
 25. 63. The process of claim 53, wherein said arriving includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values for said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values for said volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
 64. The process of claim 63, wherein said plurality of values of said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis relates to said plurality of values of said volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis according to the following expression: ${VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}$ wherein said VM_(DAF) represents said value of said volatile matter having units of percent, by weight, of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents said value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ represents mass of said biomass, and wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about
 35. 65. The process of claim 53, wherein said fuel property includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of higher heating value on said dry basis, fixed carbon on said dry basis, yield on said dry basis, volatile matter on said dry basis, an amount of carbon on said dry basis, an amount of oxygen on said dry basis and an amount of hydrogen on said dry basis.
 66. The process of claim 53, wherein said computing includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis.
 67. The process of claim 66, wherein said plurality of values of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis relates to said plurality of values of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis according to the following expression: $A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}$ wherein said A_(0,dry), represents an amount of initial ash of said biomass on a dry basis and that is present before said biomass is processed to produce said fuel, said A_(dry) represents amount of ash content in said fuel on a dry basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, M represents mass of said fuel, and M₀ represents mass of said biomass.
 68. The process of claim 53, wherein said fuel is derived from said biomass by subjecting said biomass to a thermo-chemical process.
 69. The process of claim 68, wherein said thereto-chemical process includes temperature treatment of said biomass in the absence of oxygen.
 70. The process of claim 53, wherein said value of volatile matter has units of percent, by weight.
 71. The process of claim 53, wherein said value of yield has units of percent, by weight.
 72. A system for facilitating production of a fuel, said system comprising: means for obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; means for accessing a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis and said predetermined value of said property of said fuel by solving at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, wherein said first set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{{and}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$ and said second set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$ ${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}};$ wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis, said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ is mass of said biomass, said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon on said dry basis, said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon on said dry, ash-free basis, said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry basis, said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of biomass yield on said dry basis, and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300, said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, and wherein said predetermined value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of ash content on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of carbon on said dry basis, and said value of oxygen on said dry basis; and means for facilitating, using said value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, at least one process selected from a group consisting of combustion of said fuel and processing said biomass.
 73. The system of claim 72, further comprising means for computing said value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression: ${HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 74. The system of claim 72, further comprising means for computing said amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression: $C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 75. The system of claim 72, further comprising means for computing said amount of oxygen in sad fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression: $O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$
 76. The system of claim 72, further comprising means for computing said value of yield of sad fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression: $\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}$
 77. The system of claim 72, further comprising means for computing an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expressions: $H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$ and wherein said second set of equations further includes: $H_{DAF} = {\xi - \frac{o}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}$ and said H_(dry) represents an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on said dry basis, and said H_(DAF) represents an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and wherein said group of said predetermined value of said property of said fuel further includes said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis, and wherein said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12, and said o has a value that is between about 02 and about
 1. 78. The system of claim 72, further comprising means for computing a value of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression: ${VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$ wherein said second set of equations further includes: ${VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}$ wherein said VM_(dry) represents said value of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry basis, and said VM_(DAF) represents an amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about
 35. 79. The system of claim 72, further comprising computing a value of fixed carbon of said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression: ${FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}$ wherein said second set of equations further includes: FC _(DAF)=100−VM _(DAF) wherein FC_(dry) represents said value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry basis, FC_(DAF) represents a value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
 80. A system for facilitating production of a fuel, said apparatus comprising: means for obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; means for accessing a predetermined value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis; means for using a microprocessor for computing a desired value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass dry basis and said predetermined value of said ash content of said fuel by solving a yield equation, at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, wherein said yield equation includes: ${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}},$ and said first set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{H_{DAF} = {\xi - \frac{o}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{{VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$ FC_(DAF) = 100 − VM_(DAF); said first set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{{and}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$ wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis, said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ represents mass of said biomass, said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis, said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis, said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry basis, said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry basis, and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300, said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120 said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35, said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25, said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, and wherein said desired value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of fixed carbon on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of volatile matter on said dry basis, said amount of carbon on said dry basis, said amount of oxygen on said dry basis and said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis; and means for facilitating, using said desired value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis, at least one process selected from a group consisting of consuming said fuel or processing said biomass.
 81. The system of claim 80, wherein said means for Obtaining used to determine said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis and includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of a muffle furnace, a high temperature oven, a solid fuel burner, a thermo-gravimetric analyzer, an infrared spectrometer, a near infrared spectrometer, a gamma ray absorber and a microwave absorber.
 82. The system of claim 80, further comprising means for processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said desired value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis.
 83. A system for facilitating production of a fuel on a dry basis, said system comprising: means for obtaining a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being based on biomass; means for determining a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis that corresponds to said predetermined value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis; means for correlating said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; means for arriving at a value for yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis by using said value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; means for computing a value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis that corresponds to said value of yield on said dry, ash-free basis; and wherein each of said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel, said value for volatile matter of said fuel, said value of yield of said fuel and said value of ash content of said fuel are independent of type of said biomass used in said formulation.
 84. The system of claim 83, further comprising means for conveying said value of ash content of said fuel on a dry basis to a computer associated with a biomass processing facility.
 85. The system of claim 83, further comprising means for computing information regarding said fuel on said dry basis by accounting for amount of said ash content in said fuel.
 86. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for determining includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio are correlated to a plurality of predetermined values of said property of said fuel.
 87. The system of claim 86, wherein said property of said fuel is higher heating value, and said value of carbon to oxygen ratio on said dry, ash-free basis relates to a value of higher heating value on said dry basis according to the following expression: ${HHV}_{dry} = {\left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack*{\quad\left\lbrack \frac{\left( {v + {\rho \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}} \right)*\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{{\left( {v + {\rho \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}} \right)*\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)} + {A_{0,{dry}}\left( {{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)\pi} - \mu} \right)}} \right\rbrack}}$ wherein said HHV_(dry) represents said higher heating value on a dry basis, said C represents an amount of carbon, said O represents an amount of oxygen, C and O have units of percent, by weight; and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300, said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about
 25. 88. The system of claim 83, wherein said means for correlating includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
 89. The system of claim 83, wherein said means for arriving includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values for said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values for said volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
 90. The system of claim 83, wherein said fuel property includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of higher heating value on said dry basis, fixed carbon on said dry basis, yield on said dry basis, volatile matter on said dry basis, an amount of carbon on said dry basis, an amount of oxygen on said dry basis and an amount of hydrogen on said dry basis.
 91. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein said means for computing includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis.
 92. A system for facilitating production of fuel, said system comprising: at least one processor; at least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at east one network device; and memory; said at least one processor being operable to store in said memory a plurality of data structures; said system being operable to: obtain a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on a dr basis, and a formulation of said fuel being based on biomass; determine a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis that corresponds to said predetermined value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis; correlate said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; arrive at a value for yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis by using said value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; compute a value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis that corresponds to said value of yield on said dry, ash-free basis; and wherein each of said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel, said value for volatile matter of said fuel, said value of yield of said fuel and said value of ash content of said fuel are independent of type of said biomass used in said formulation.
 93. A process for facilitating production of a fuel, said process comprising: obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis and said predetermined value of said property of said fuel by solving at least one equation in a first set of equations and at least one equation in a second set of equations, wherein said first set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{and}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}},$ and said second set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$ ${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}};$ wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis, said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ is mass of said biomass, said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon on said dry basis, said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon on said dry, ash-free basis, said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry basis, said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of biomass yield on said dry basis, and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about
 300. said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about
 50. said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, and wherein said predetermined value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of ash content on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of carbon on said dry basis, and said value of oxygen on said dry basis; and facilitating, using said value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, at least one process selected from a group consisting of combustion of fuel or processing biomass.
 94. A process for facilitating production of a fuel, said process comprising: obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing a predetermined value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a desired value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass dry basis and said predetermined value of said ash content of said fuel by solving a yield equation, at least one equation in a first set of equations and at least one equation in a second set of equations, wherein said yield equation includes: ${A_{dry} = \frac{100}{{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{A_{0,{dry}}}} + 1}},$ and said second set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{DAF} = \left\lbrack {{{- \frac{\alpha}{\left( \frac{C}{O} \right)}}*{\ln \left( {{\beta \left( \frac{C}{O} \right)} - \gamma} \right)}} + \delta} \right\rbrack},{C_{DAF} = {\mu + \frac{v}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{H_{DAF} = {\xi - \frac{o}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{O_{DAF} = {\pi - \frac{\rho}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{{VM}_{DAF} = {\kappa - \frac{\lambda}{\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}}}},{and}$ FC_(DAF) = 100 − VM_(DAF); and said first set of equations includes: ${{HHV}_{dry} = {{HHV}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{FC}_{dry} = {{FC}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{VM}_{dry} = {{VM}_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{C_{dry} = {C_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{H_{dry} = {H_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{O_{dry} = {O_{DAF}\frac{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}{100}}},{{{{and}\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)}_{dry} = {\left( \frac{M}{M_{0}} \right)_{DAF}*\frac{\left( {100 - A_{0,{dry}}} \right)}{\left( {100 - A_{dry}} \right)}}};}$ wherein said A_(o,dry) represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis, said A_(dry) represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, said HHV_(DAF) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(DAF) represents a value of field of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and said M represents mass of said fuel, said M₀ represents mass of said biomass, said HHV_(dry) represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis, said C_(dry) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis, said C_(DAF) represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said O_(dry) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry basis, said O_(DAF) represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M₀)_(dry) represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry basis, and wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300, said β has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said γ has a value that is between about 1×10⁷ and about 1×10⁸, said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000, said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120 said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35, said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1, said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25, said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12, said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, and wherein said desired value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of fixed carbon on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of volatile matter on said dry basis, said amount of carbon on said dry basis, said amount of oxygen on said dry basis and said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis; and facilitating, using said value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis, at least one process selected from a group consisting of combustion of fuel or processing of biomass. 